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  #1  
Old 12-23-2017, 12:00 AM
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35d - Long and Multiple Cranks to Start

So....
Went to the store for groceries and once I got in my vehicle to leave - it wouldn’t start.
Vehicle cranks.....and cranks...and....cranks - but no start.
I was getting all kids of different warnings (most likely due to battery being drained) and decided to call it a night.
Following day - vehicle cranked for about 7 seconds and finally turned over. Drove it home and pulled the code:

4B90 - rail pressure at engine start-to-low

2011 BMW X5 35d ~80k

After a long search, and not finding anything that looks promising, I decided to take it to an Indy for drop off; figured 90 bucks is well spent if I can get a definite answer as to what is causing this.

BMW Master tech - 15 years experience (not sure how much of that time is spend with diesel) had the vehicle for 3 days and couldn’t give me a direct answer.

Low pressure pump - checks good.
High pressure pump - checks good
Injectors - checks good
EKP - checks good

Tech says he uses the same ‘online’ diagnostic system that is live fed to BMW that every Certified BMW service center uses. He stated that all the pressures are good and IF the EKP and/or injectors were bad, he’d definitely be getting other codes.

He suggested that we start with the cheapest course of action - replace fuel filter and drain tank.

I opted to drain the tank (500 bucks) and decided to replace the filter only. Same problem persists.

Sometimes it cranks instantly (cold or hot) but most of the time it take 2-4 long 7 seconds crank to turn over. I am at a lost and I do not want to throw money at my car hoping it will fix it.

Any suggestions?
He did however mention rodent damage at some insulation and a few bite marks on couple of wires under the hood. He couldn’t confirm if that’s the cause but he wanted me to take note of it.

Suggestions/ideas/similar experiences??

Thanks!
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  #2  
Old 12-23-2017, 03:29 AM
ard ard is offline
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There are thousands of posts about "BMW" and "Diesel" and "4B90"...i expect there is an answer there.

Agree that your 15 year master tech may have virtually no DIESEL experience...$500 for a tank drain was dealer pricing.

Which is your closest dealership?
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Old 12-23-2017, 11:16 AM
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About 2 miles away - which is only 1/4 away from the original place I had it at -lol

There’s a few reasons why I didn’t take it there but mainly because I wanted to change the part myself. Didn’t want to spend 200.00 to have someone tell me what part to change.

I’ll give it a few more days of digging around and asking questions before I take it there.
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Old 12-25-2017, 10:45 AM
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Update:
Decided to drive the hell out of the car since the tech advised draining the tank. Not sure the logic behind this thought - but I figured if I can kill the fuel by driving it (without somehow breaking down) and get fresh diesel in the tank - then it’ll help eliminate the possibility of having bad diesel.
(Not sure how bad diesel can only cause starting issues but otherwise drive smoothly...?..)

So I drive for about 4 hours, off and on w/long cranks in between - didn’t have any issues otherwise. Got to about where the reading says I have 50 miles till empty and stoped at a gas station.
Didn’t want to fill her up, so only put 30 bucks in.
Started the car - fired right up - but had a hunting idle and ran rough for about 7-10 seconds. Since then, I’ve maybe driven it 60 miles with 4-5 startups.

Each startup - Zero issues. Cranks like the day I bought her. No SES light.

Again, not sure how bad diesel can sometime only cause bad startups but I’m guessing that’s exactly what happened.
(Knock-on-wood) but thankfully it wasn’t the HPFP or something else expensive.


Merry Christmas
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Old 12-26-2017, 01:25 PM
ard ard is offline
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Quote:
I opted to drain the tank (500 bucks) and decided to replace the filter only. Same problem persists.
Well this was confusing.

Report back when the fuel level drops again. Out of curiosity, when the hard start began, how long ago had you refueled??
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  #6  
Old 12-26-2017, 02:01 PM
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Sorry.
I decided to not drain the tank and only replace fuel filter.

Sunday afternoon I refueled and put half a tank.
I’m pretty sure I’m not out the woods yet.....it’s only a matter of time this happens again.
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Old 12-26-2017, 03:42 PM
ard ard is offline
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In some cars I have seen internal tank plumbing issue were fuel is properly puped when the tank is full, but as fuel is drawn down odd stuff happens.... Dunno with the D
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